MESSENGER

In This Lesson

1. The Call of God

2. Preparation

3. It’s Time to Evangelize

Section 1 – The Call of God

Before you were born, God had a specific purpose for your life.

Psalm 139:13-16 “… I am fearfully and wonderfully made…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (NIV)

His goal is to get you to the place where you realize that He has a purpose for you, and you bring yourself into focus with God’s plan (I Cor. 12:27).

John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit…”

Each believer possesses a unique blend of talents, background and personality. It is not a coincidence that you are gifted in certain areas, or that you have experienced certain hardships (Rom. 8:28).

God has not only saved you, but He has also called you to develop into a spiritual soldier to fight for lost souls! You may play any number of roles in God’s army, but know that God has a job just for you.

However, this does not force your hand. Each believer must individually

choose whether or not they will answer the call.

Isaiah 6:8 “…I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me”

Notice that God did not call a particular individual in this verse. A task needed to be accomplished, and Isaiah volunteered. In this regard, Isaiah made himself available and answered the call of God.

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What is this call?

The call of God is to Evangelize!

Evangelize – to share the gospel with the intent of saving souls.

Jesus issued one final command before His ascension. The kingdom of God was to be preached across the entire world. It was His last and most important command.

Matthew 28:19-20 “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them…” (NIV)

Once the gospel was preached throughout the earth, Jesus promised to return for His church (Matt. 24:14). The call for soul winners was one of the only prayer requests of Jesus (Luke 10:2).

1. What is the value of a soul? How much would you be willing to give in order to lead an individual to salvation (Matt. 16:26)? Oh, that we had a deeper burden for our lost friends and family!

2. How much time are you giving to prayer and study? Are you investing in spiritual books and materials? Is there a hunger in your life to find and fulfill God’s call? Are you focused? What do you have a desire to do?

3. If you do not know, could it be that you are too involved in other things, leaving little time to focus on God’s calling upon your life?

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Section 2 – Preparation

Just as a new job requires orientation and training, so must the new believer spend time preparing to answer the call (I Pet. 2:2). The value of God’s call is reflected by the time and energy you place into preparation.

I Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them…in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee”

How do I prepare for the call of God?

The believer can take immediate and ongoing steps toward spiritual

development and maturity. The following are vital keys to effective leadership, and will serve as valuable tools in fulfilling the call of God upon your life.

1. A Relationship with God – quality time in fellowship with the Creator will enable us to lead and influence others. Spiritual gifts and open doors are birthed through a personal relationship with God.

2. Attitude –in a face-to-face conversation, you are judged by your physical demeanor and facial expressions in addition to your words. How you say something is as important as what you are saying.

Therefore, our attitudes must be right. The attitude of joy is the strength of the believer (Neh. 8:10, Ps. 16:11, I Pet. 1:8). Display an attitude of joy in all that you do. Others are watching closely.

3. Charisma – the 1st Century church at Jerusalem was well received by many in their local community. As a result, new believers were born into the kingdom of God on a daily basis (Acts 2:47). People are drawn to leaders who encourage, show appreciation, forgive quickly and listen carefully.

If people are not currently drawn to you, you can change this!

• Learn to smile, and smile often. A smile relaxes others.

• Introduce yourself. Even a quick hello is valuable.

• Ask others about their life. People are often ready and willing to share their goals, events and dreams.

4. Skill – are you developing yourself? Are you studying the Word of God? Ask God to give you wisdom (Jam. 1:5), then put your prayer into action by studying to show yourself approved (II Tim. 2:15).

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet” – John Maxwell

5. Spiritual Sensitivity – a soul-winner must be able to perceive the attitudes, feelings and circumstances of others. This cannot be learned from a book, but can only be obtained through time spent in prayer with the Lord.i

6. Anointing – an individual is anointed when God’s presence and power flows out of their words, thoughts, actions and prayers. It is God’s preferred method by which He releases His life changing power. Anointing enables us to complete the mission (Luke 4:18).

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Section 3 – It’s Time to Evangelize

The commission of Christ, the vision of your pastor, and the cry of the Spirit are united in purpose: we MUST reach our world with the gospel! The eternal destinies of family, friends and strangers hang in the balance.

1. A witness shares what they have seen, heard, experienced – and therefore know – about a situation. In His infinite wisdom, God has chosen us to be His witnesses (Acts 22:15, Mark 16:15).

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (NIV)

2. Evangelism means that saints will no longer attend church for selfish reasons alone. When a visitor walks through the doors of the sanctuary, the saints must welcome them with open arms.

3. Scripture urges believers to share the gospel clearly, fearlessly, and respectfully whenever opportunities arise (Eph. 6:19-20).

I Peter 3:15 “…be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you… the reason for the hope that you have…do this with gentleness and respect” (NIV)

How do I evangelize?

Evangelism can take many forms. Discover the method that works for you and stick with it.

1. Outreach may be through:

a. One-on-one conversations

b. Teaching bible studies

c. Passing out church cards

d. Bringing friends of your children to Sunday School

e. Volunteering in community outreach

f. Ministering to inmates

g. Organizing food drives

h. Assisting in a daughter work

i. Cleaning the church

j. …and many more

2. Either directly – or as part of a larger initiative – you are engaging your time, talents and energy into evangelism. There is no higher calling for the saint of God!

Colossians 4:2-5 “Devote yourselves to prayer…that God may open a door… make the most of every opportunity” (NIV)

3. The church of Jesus Christ is compared to a body with many members. Each member must communicate with the head of the body (I Cor. 12:13-23) for his assignment.

Some members will be assigned to the front lines (Paul planted), while others must care for the development and training of newly won souls (Apollos watered), with full assurance that God will bless their efforts (I Cor. 3:6).

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What is evangelism about?

Evangelism is about…

• …People – we must be patient with individuals, allowing the seed of truth to germinate and grow over time. Evangelism is not a one-time event. It is a process.

• …Teamwork – we do not have to win souls by ourselves. Soul winning is the combined effort of many unified believers.

• …Eternity – a single soul is worth more than the riches of the entire world (Matt. 16:26). Every man, woman and child is priceless!ii

Are there examples of evangelism in Scripture?

Scripture contains many New Testament accounts of evangelism. In fact, the approach to evangelism is as versatile as the personalities who deliver its message. Let us examine a few occurrences.

• Preaching (Acts 2:14-41) – The Apostle Peter preached with anointing and conviction on the Day of Pentecost. His method of evangelism was through the preaching of the gospel.

• Teaching and Discussion (Acts 17:1-4) – The Apostle Paul taught in the synagogue. He explained and proved that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. His method of evangelism was through the teaching and discussion of the gospel.

• A Personal Testimony (John 9:1-25) – Jesus restored the sight of a man who was blind from birth. When Pharisees confronted the man, he simply shared his miraculous, life-changing testimony.

• An Invitation (John 4:6-10) – Jesus revealed His role as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman near Sychar. To start up a conversation, Jesus invited the woman to give him a drink from a nearby well. His method of evangelism began with an invitation.

• A Miracle (Luke 5:1-11) – Jesus wished to demonstrate His power to Simon and his fellow fisherman. Despite a long night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus challenged them to launch back out to sea and let down their nets. The resulting catch of fish was astonishing. His method of evangelism began with a miracle. iii

Regardless of the method used, the call of God is to share the gospel. Of these illustrations, perhaps the most effective initial method of soul-winning is to share your personal testimony.

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How do I develop and share my testimony?

People argue many things, but they cannot argue with a personal testimony (John 9:25). Sharing what God has done for you is one of the most effective soul-winning methods a believer possesses. Your testimony is captivating, inoffensive and indisputable.

To understand how to share your testimony, observe the following steps:

1. Write it down – consider the state of your life before you experienced salvation (Eph. 4:22). Recall the events that led you to the truth. What motivated you then (fear, sickness, pain, knowledge, etc.)? What motivates you now? How different is your life after experiencing salvation? Has God ever healed you? Putting your testimony on paper will help you remember what to share when opportunities arise.

2. Pray for opportunities to share – If you will pray daily for opportunities, God will divinely orchestrate connections with the right individuals at the right time (Jam. 5:16). People are ready to hear your testimony, if you are willing to share! They may even ask without warning, so be ready! (I Pet. 3:15)

3. Understand their situation – Often, the best way to begin sharing your testimony is to first understand the individual’s current circumstances: Are they battling an illness? Are they living in fear? Do they feel that life has no purpose?

People must know that you care enough about them to understand their situation. Listen and relate to them first (I Cor. 9:20-22).

4. Share your testimony – after listening to their circumstances and establishing a connection, find a similar point that you struggled with (before salvation) and use that as a bridge to share your personal testimony. At that point, they will feel that you have something to offer them. They will be willing to listen because you fought those same battles and found an answer.

5. Include the gospel – Remember, your testimony is merely the door through which you can ultimately share the good news (Rom. 6:3-7). Let them see how much it means to you and how life-changing it is to be born again!

6. Don’t be discouraged – If you share your testimony and they respond in faith, great! However, the precious seed of truth often takes time to germinate and grow (I Cor. 3:6). If the individual does not immediately respond, you have still answered the call of God. Rest assured, God will use that testimony to draw on their heart (Isa. 55:11, Acts 17:27, John 12:32).

CONCLUSION: Answer the call, prepare yourself, and become a soul winning, active, passionate member of the kingdom of God. We have a job to do. Let’s do it with all our might! (Ecc. 9:10)

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